Albertsons Companies, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results (2024)

BOISE, Idaho, April 22, 2024--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE: ACI) (the "Company") today reported results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 and full year fiscal 2023, which ended February 24, 2024.

Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2023 Highlights

• Identical sales increased 1.0%

• Digital sales increased 24%

• Loyalty members increased 16% to 39.8 million

• Net income of $251 million, or $0.43 per share

• Adjusted net income of $318 million, or $0.54 per share

• Adjusted EBITDA of $916 million

Fiscal 2023 Highlights

• Identical sales increased 3.0%

• Digital sales increased 22%

• Net income of $1,296 million, or $2.23 per share

• Adjusted net income of $1,694 million, or $2.88 per share

• Adjusted EBITDA of $4,318 million

"We delivered another solid quarter amidst a difficult industry backdrop," said Vivek Sankaran, CEO. "Again this quarter, we focused on our strategy to create Customers for Life, which drove strong growth in digital and pharmacy, deepened our omnichannel relationships with our customers and improved our in-store experience. We are pleased with our fiscal 2023 financial results, particularly in omnichannel where we have increased our investments in technology, digital and in-store customer experience and supply chain operations. We want to thank all of our teams who continue to deliver on our commitment to serving our customers and communities."

Mr. Sankaran added, "As we look forward to fiscal 2024, we will continue investing in our Customers for Life strategy and developing the digital and omnichannel capabilities necessary to support it. Our Customers for Life strategy is placing the customer at the center of everything we do, with the ultimate goal of supporting them every day, every week, and for a lifetime. It is a multi-year journey that we will continue to build on in fiscal 2024 as we invest in capabilities that allow us to digitally connect and further engage our customers through a frictionless omnichannel experience, enhance what we offer, modernize our operational capabilities and transform our ways of working."

Mr. Sankaran concluded, "At the same time, we expect to face ongoing headwinds posed by investments in associate wages and benefits, cycling significant prior year food inflation, lower government assistance for our customers, declining COVID-related income, and the increasing mix of our pharmacy and digital businesses, which carry lower margins. We expect these headwinds to be much stronger in the first half of fiscal 2024. These headwinds are expected, however, to be partially offset by ongoing productivity initiatives."

Fourth Quarter of Fiscal 2023 Results

Net sales and other revenue was $18.3 billion during both the 12 weeks ended February 24, 2024 ("fourth quarter of fiscal 2023") and the 12 weeks ended February 25, 2023 ("fourth quarter of fiscal 2022"). Net sales and other revenue during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 were driven by a 1.0% increase in identical sales, partially offset by lower fuel sales and wholesale revenue. Strong growth in pharmacy sales drove the identical sales increase. We also continued to grow our digital business with a 24% sales increase during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023.

Gross margin rate increased to 28.0% during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to 27.8% during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. Excluding the impact of fuel and LIFO, gross margin rate decreased 58 basis points compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. The strong growth in pharmacy operations, which carries an overall lower gross margin rate, increases in shrink, and increases in picking and delivery costs related to the continued growth in our digital sales were the primary drivers of the decrease, partially offset by our procurement and sourcing productivity initiatives. In addition, the benefits from our productivity initiatives allowed us to continue to provide incremental targeted price investments to our customers during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023.

Selling and administrative expenses decreased to 25.7% of Net sales and other revenue during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to 25.8% during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. Excluding the impacts of fuel and a legal settlement in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, Selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of Net sales and other revenue increased 13 basis points. The increase in Selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of Net sales and other revenue was primarily attributable to an increase in operating expenses related to the ongoing development of our digital and omnichannel capabilities, ongoing Merger-related costs, increased store occupancy costs and additional third-party store security services, partially offset by lower employee costs, which includes the benefit of ongoing productivity initiatives, and lower depreciation and amortization. We expect a continued trend in increased digital spend as we enhance and maintain the modernization of our technology platforms.

Net loss on property dispositions and impairment losses was $0.8 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to net gain of $61.4 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022.

Interest expense, net was $109.0 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to $91.6 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. The increase in interest expense, net was primarily attributable to lower interest income.

Other expense, net was $2.4 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to other income, net of $9.5 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022.

Income tax expense was $64.3 million, representing a 20.4% effective tax rate, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, compared to $40.4 million, representing an 11.5% effective tax rate, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022. The increase in the effective tax rate was the result of certain federal statutes expiring in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 and the related reduction in reserves for uncertain tax positions.

Net income was $250.5 million or $0.43 per share during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. Net income was $311.1 million or $0.54 per share during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, which included a $43.5 million or $0.07 per share benefit related to the reduction in reserves for uncertain tax positions in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022.

Adjusted net income was $318.0 million, or $0.54 per share during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to $459.7 million, or $0.79 per share (which includes the $0.07 per share tax benefit discussed above), during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022.

Adjusted EBITDA was $915.8 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 compared to $1,050.2 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022.

Capital Expenditures

During fiscal 2023, capital expenditures were $2,031.3 million, which primarily included the completion of 150 remodels, the opening of six new stores and continued investment in our digital and technology platforms.

Merger Agreement

As previously announced, on October 13, 2022, the Company entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Merger Agreement") with The Kroger Company and Kettle Merger Sub, Inc. Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, subject to regulatory approval, Kroger (through Kettle Merger Sub, Inc.) will acquire all of the outstanding shares of the Company's common stock (the "Merger"). Details regarding the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement are available in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2023 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on April 22, 2024.

About Albertsons Companies

Albertsons Companies is a leading food and drug retailer in the United States. As of February 24, 2024, the Company operated 2,269 retail stores with 1,725 pharmacies, 402 associated fuel centers, 22 dedicated distribution centers and 19 manufacturing facilities. The Company operates stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia under more than 20 well known banners including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shaw's, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, Carrs, Kings Food Markets and Balducci's Food Lovers Market. The Company is committed to helping people across the country live better lives by making a meaningful difference, neighborhood by neighborhood. In 2023, along with the Albertsons Companies Foundation, the Company contributed more than $350 million in food and financial support, including more than $35 million through our Nourishing Neighbors Program to ensure those living in our communities and those impacted by disasters have enough to eat.

Forward-Looking Statements and Factors That Impact Our Operating Results and Trends

This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. The "forward-looking statements" include our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about our business, our industry and the outcome of the Merger. They include statements relating to our future operating or financial performance which the Company believes to be reasonable at this time. You can identify forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "may," "should," "could," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," "continue," "anticipates," "believes," "plans," "expects," "future" and "intends" and similar expressions which are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties which are beyond our control and difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements include:

• uncertainties related to the Merger, including our ability to close the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and the impact of the costs related to the Merger;

• erosion of consumer confidence as a result of the Merger and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;

• changes in macroeconomic conditions and uncertainty regarding the geopolitical environment;

• rates of food price inflation or deflation, as well as fuel and commodity prices;

• changes in consumer behavior and spending due to the impact of macroeconomic factors, including the expiration of student loan payment deferments;

• challenges in attracting, retaining and motivating our employees until the closing of the Merger;

• failure to achieve productivity initiatives, unexpected changes in our objectives and plans, inability to implement our strategies, plans, programs and initiatives, or enter into strategic transactions, investments or partnerships in the future on terms acceptable to us, or at all;

• changes in wage rates, ability to attract and retain qualified associates and negotiate acceptable contracts with labor unions;

• litigation related to the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement;

• restrictions on our ability to operate as a result of the Merger Agreement;

• availability and cost of goods used in our food products;

• challenges with our supply chain;

• operational and financial effects resulting from cyber incidents at the Company or at a third party, including outages in the cloud environment and the effectiveness of business continuity plans during a ransomware or other cyber incident; and

• continued reduction in governmental assistance programs such as SNAP.

All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements and risk factors. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release reflect our view only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation, other than as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

In evaluating our financial results and forward-looking statements, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties more fully described in the "Risk Factors" section or other sections in our reports filed with the SEC including the most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

The Company has filed with the SEC a definitive information statement on Schedule 14C with respect to the approval of the Merger and has mailed the definitive information statement to the Company's stockholders. You may obtain copies of all documents filed by the Company with the SEC regarding this transaction, free of charge, at the SEC's website, www.sec.gov or from the Company's website at https://www.albertsonscompanies.com/investors/overview/.

Non-GAAP Measures and Identical Sales

Non-GAAP Measures. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income, Adjusted net income per Class A common share and Net debt ratio (collectively, the "Non-GAAP Measures") are performance measures that provide supplemental information the Company believes is useful to analysts and investors to evaluate its ongoing results of operations, when considered alongside other GAAP measures such as net income, operating income, gross margin, and net income per Class A common share. These Non-GAAP Measures exclude the financial impact of items management does not consider in assessing the Company's ongoing core operating performance, and thereby provide useful measures to analysts and investors of its operating performance on a period-to-period basis. Other companies may have different definitions of Non-GAAP Measures and provide for different adjustments, and comparability to the Company's results of operations may be impacted by such differences. The Company also uses Adjusted EBITDA and Net debt ratio for board of director and bank compliance reporting. The Company's presentation of Non-GAAP Measures should not be construed as an inference that its future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items.

Identical Sales. As used in this earnings release, the term "identical sales" includes stores operating during the same period in both the current fiscal year and the prior fiscal year, comparing sales on a daily basis. Direct to consumer digital sales are included in identical sales, and fuel sales are excluded from identical sales.

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Contacts

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